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Scott, Erik: and the Earth Bleeds
 Erik Scott is someone you may not be familiar with. The former bass player for Alice Cooper released his debut Other Planets in 2011 and is back with his sophomore effort and the Earth Bleeds.
The album blends Celtic and Gypsy sounds with Scott's fluid bass work and spacey textures. There is a dreamy element at work here and the music never gets very heavy but that's okay. This is an album that you really have to listen to carefully, preferably on a good set of headphones to fully immerse yourself in the music. Besides bass, Scott plays baritone guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, electric piano and programmed drums and percussion. A well rounded musician to say the least.
The album's first track "Gypsy Mother And The Royal Bastard" is a blending of Celtic, Gypsy and spacey sounds and textures. The violin from guest musician Shira Kammen has a haunting, melancholic sound that blends beautifully with Scott's fluid bass excursions. "Free" is a dreamy sounding number with floating keys and angelic lead vocals from Ana Maria Botero. The haunting title track is one of the best here with its spacey synths, fluid bass work and Scott's lead vocals which bear an uncanny resemblance to David Bowie. The song picks up the tempo in the last half with lovely choir vocals amidst a dense instrumental backdrop of violin and synths. "Weightless" is very mellow and dreamy as his "Loco Amour (I Could Be Crazy)" with the latter featuring moody guitar work from Phil Miller and duet vocals from Scott and Botero. The Celtic influences return in "The Battle For Neverland" which is perhaps the most up-tempo here. The Bowie influenced "Let's Do Something Cool" is another highlight channeling a '70s art rock vibe very effectively.
Moody, dreamy, fluid and dynamic are just a few adjectives I can use to describe and the Earth Bleeds. While it never rocks very hard, Scott more than makes up for it in his choice of moods and textures. Bowie fans will certainly find much to enjoy.
Track Listing:
1. Gypsy Mother And The Royal Bastard
2. Free
3. And The Earth Bleeds
4. Weightless
5. Loco Amour (I Could Be Crazy)
6. The Battle For Neverland
7. Let's Do Something Cool
8. Run
9. The White Mouse
Added: December 27th 2014
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:  
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 2110
Language: english
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Scott, Erik: and the Earth Bleeds
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2014-12-27 17:43:18
My Score:
What sort of music does a man whose played bass in Flo & Eddie, the Alice Cooper band and is a founder member of Sonia Dad (never mind collaborations with Triumph, Ted Nugent and Kim Carnes) create for a solo album? Well in the case of Erik Scott's solo debut, Other Planets, back in 2008, instrumental bass led workouts could be a fair description. However for And The Earth Bleeds, what Scott has crafted here is Progressive, World, Folk, New Age fare; most unexpected and most delightful. If you were to think of laid back, Tony Levin led Peter Gabriel grooves with programmed drums and languid vocals, then you won't be far away.
Now that description may not inspire an enormous amount of excitement and initial listens give exactly the same impression; a kind of, it's good, but hardly vital, feel the order of the day. And yet live with this easy paced and understated set of songs for a longer period and something happens; immersion causing connection. Also, in fairness, you have to pay attention. This isn't sing along stuff and it doesn't apologise for it either, instead mood and atmosphere are the order of the day, as is poise and depth. Instrumental "Gypsy Mother And The Royal Bastard" sets the tone, surging, yet controlled bass laying the foundation as waves of atmosphere wash over you, violin taking centre stage to tell a story lyrics possibly couldn't. However there are vocals on this album and Ana Maria Botero and Michael Scott do a wonderful job of elevating the moods created on "Free". Although the instrumental title track hits just as hard with Erik Scott utilising a talking in tune vocal style to captivating effect.
The basis for most of the tracks is actually remarkably similar, and yet utilising instruments such as English whistle, Steel Guitar, bagpipes, frame drum and the aforementioned violin, reveals a host of ever changing colour splashes in otherwise moody themes. "The Battle For Neverland" an excellent example of how to hit hard, while barely putting the foot on the pedal, never mind to the floor; folk themes rolling out of the speakers to greet you. Although "Let's Do Something Cool Today" decides to simply brood as Scott relays the good, rather cool, deeds you could do today to help improve the world.
And The Earth Bleeds isn't an album which will bowl you over, rather one you'll be seduced and cajoled into fully engaging with, without you even really noticing you have. Resulting in a gentle, yet captivating experience you'll want to partake in again and again.
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